Just days into the New Year, Kyiv launched a fresh offensive in the Russian Kursk Oblast, reportedly catching the Kremlin's forces off guard on Sunday. According to commentary from social media, columns of Ukrainian armored vehicles advanced toward the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe, after clearing mines overnight.

Rob Lee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute shared images of the Ukrainian forces on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, citing commentary from pro-Kremlin military bloggers. Lee posted, "Some Russian channels have been warning recently of a Ukrainian build up near Kursk and a potential offensive."

Fierce fighting had occurred throughout the weekend with dozens of engagements. However, the size of the operation remains unclear.

"Ukrainian and Western military analysts said that the attacks could be a deliberate attempt at misdirection, trying to force Russian troops to shore up defenses there in the hopes of weakening them on the front line in Ukrainian territory," The New York Times reported.

The paper of record added, "Although Ukraine now holds less than half of the territory it seized in the Kursk offensive last summer, it has managed in recent weeks to slow Russia's advances despite repeated waves of Russian........

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